CAMPAIGNERS are "disgusted" by a government inspector allowing up to 250 homes at Hulton Lane Playing Fields to go ahead.

Bolton Council’s decision to refuse permission for the development at the much-loved playing fields has been overturned following an appeal.

Activist Alan Johnson said the community is shocked, disappointed and angry at the outcome.

He said: “Given the fact that the planning committee in Bolton, all 17 councillors, rejected it as a committee, we are very surprised with the decision. So much for local democracy."

Mike Manville, chair of Hulton Community Action Group, told The Bolton News that the decision shows that the community's values and opinions do not matter in the planning process.

He said: “This decision by the inspector belittles Bolton Council’s planning decision capabilities and shows that the council’s core strategies are totally meaningless and not worth the paper they are written on. As we have said before, the council has let our community down.”

The Daubhill resident will now write to the council leader and secretary of state to protest the decision.

Both sets of plans for the site have been given planning permission by planning inspector Siobhan Watson.

She said: “For both appeals, I find no material harm to highway safety. My overall finding is that both proposals would not have a materially adverse impact upon the provision of open space. Both proposals would conform to development plan policy and would add to the supply of housing. I therefore conclude that both appeals should succeed.”

Landowner Eden Land’s initial plans, which were refused by Bolton Council in July 2018, would see up to 250 homes built at the site.

Members of the community submitted more than 1,800 letters objecting to new plans submitted by MCI Developments in September which were also thrown out.

The firm offered a sports club, which has been located in the fields for three decades, £25,000 to spend however it sees fit if the plans were to be approved.

Wally’s accepted the conditional offer for the transfer of a larger plot of land with an additional rounders pitch and retaining the clubhouse for a fee of £1.

But in January, this new application for 234 homes was also thrown out by the planning committee.

Dawn Wallbank told The Bolton News she was “shocked” by the inspector's decision and does not know what it means for the future of the club.

Representatives form Bolton Council defended the unanimous decision by the planning committee to refuse permission for both applications at the public inquiry.

They were joined by residents and members of Hulton Community Action Group who also spoke at the hearing in April.

The council’s legal team argued that the proposed developments would “destabilise” the highway network and deprive the area of a “valued and valuable” recreational space.

However, residents at the inquiry were frustrated that the council dropped arguments related to car parking and potential contamination.

Cllr Nick Peel, who represented some of the council’s objections, defended the local authority’s decision at the time.

He said: “People may think that it assists in a planning appeal if you put multiple objections forward. That’s not true. What the planning authority has to do is go on the main planning objections which we did in this case which is loss of amenity and highways grounds. You stand a much better chance of winning an appeal if you focus in on your strongest arguments.”